Legislative Activity

The "Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025" aims to increase tax benefits for individuals who use their personal vehicles for charitable purposes. Starting after 2024, the bill allows the Secretary to set a higher mileage rate for charitable contributions, matching the standard rate used for business expenses. This adjustment seeks to provide greater financial relief to volunteer drivers by increasing their eligible deductions.

The "Protect and Serve Act of 2025" creates federal offenses for intentionally causing serious injury or death to law enforcement officers because of their status as officers. It sets penalties including imprisonment and fines, with increased penalties if death results or if kidnapping or attempted killing is involved. Federal prosecution requires certification from the Attorney General, based on a request from the state or if it is in the public interest to ensure substantial justice. The act defines "law enforcement officer" and "State" for the purposes of the new offenses.

The America Works Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide exemptions from work requirements for specific individuals, including those under 18 or over 65, medically unfit individuals, and parents of young children. It also allows the Secretary to waive certain requirements in counties with high unemployment rates, based on state agency requests. Additionally, the act removes a subsection from the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act aims to strengthen U.S. trade laws by addressing unfair subsidies, currency undervaluation, duty evasion, and circumvention of trade remedies. It refines the process for handling successive trade investigations, ensuring that the International Trade Commission considers prior findings and assesses cumulative effects on domestic industries. The act also empowers authorities to counteract cost distortions in foreign countries and prevent importers from avoiding duties. Additionally, it includes provisions related to trade with Canada and Mexico and sets effective dates for new regulations.

The "Unplug the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Program Act" eliminates grant programs for charging and fueling infrastructure, specifically repealing the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. This includes rescinding unspent funds and terminating the program entirely upon enactment. The bill amends sections of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and title 23 of the United States Code to remove references to the grant programs.

The "Due Process Continuity of Care Act" aims to provide Medicaid coverage for individuals in custody awaiting charges in a medical institution, removing the existing inmate limitation on benefits. It authorizes the Secretary to award planning grants to states to support providing Medicaid assistance to eligible individuals and to prepare an application that meets specific requirements. The Act requires states to develop plans for assessing health treatment needs, increasing healthcare provider participation, and ensuring quality of care for patients in custody. It allocates $50,000,000 for these planning grants.

The "Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act of 2025" streamlines the enrollment process for out-of-state healthcare providers in Medicaid and CHIP, ensuring children under 21 have access to care from eligible providers across state lines. By reducing administrative burdens and unnecessary screening requirements, the Act aims to improve healthcare access for children while maintaining necessary safeguards against fraud and abuse. Participating providers will be enrolled for a 5-year period, and the changes will take effect three years after the Act's enactment.

The "Rare Earth Magnet Security Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for the production of rare earth magnets, incentivizing domestic manufacturing. The credit offers \$20 per kilogram for magnets made in the U.S. and \$30 per kilogram if 90% of the magnet's materials are U.S.-sourced. The credit phases out after 2034 and includes restrictions on sourcing materials from non-allied foreign nations, with some temporary exceptions. The act also allows manufacturers to elect to receive direct payments from the government in lieu of the tax credit.

The Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance Program Act expands and codifies a Department of Agriculture program to provide technical assistance and training to rural health care facilities. This program aims to improve financial stability, prevent closures, and strengthen health care delivery in rural areas. The Act authorizes up to $2,000,000 annually from 2026-2030 for these activities and requires annual reports to Congress. It prioritizes outreach to facilities at risk and those serving underserved populations.

The "Make American Flags in America Act of 2025" mandates that U.S. flags displayed on Federal property or bought by Federal agencies be entirely manufactured in the U.S. using 100% U.S.-made materials, in accordance with international agreements. It also directs the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on country-of-origin labeling enforcement for U.S. flags, aiming to improve enforcement and deter violations.

The "Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025" amends the Animal Health Protection Act to provide compensation to poultry growers and layers who are prohibited from raising flocks due to being located in a control area designated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Compensation will be based on the facility's average income from its five most recent flocks, and must be paid within 60 days of a request. The Secretary of Agriculture's decision on compensation is final and not subject to judicial review. This compensation aims to offset losses incurred during the control period, ensuring financial stability for affected poultry farmers.

The I CAN Act broadens the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse-midwives within Medicare and Medicaid, aiming to improve healthcare access and efficiency, particularly in underserved areas. It removes barriers to their practice, expands coverage for their services, and increases transparency in Medicare coverage decisions. The Act also allows these advanced practice registered nurses to provide temporary services and ensures the new provisions take effect promptly, enhancing access to care and streamlining healthcare delivery.

The Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act prevents Congress from imposing new performance fees on local radio stations for playing music. It emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship between broadcasters and the recording industry, where radio provides free publicity that boosts music sales and supports artists. The act recognizes local radio's crucial role in communities by providing news, weather updates, and public service announcements. Ultimately, this bill aims to protect local radio stations and businesses from economic harm, ensuring they can continue serving their communities without additional financial burdens.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective from the date of enactment. It adjusts gift tax calculations by setting the lifetime gift exemption at $10,000,000, with inflation adjustments after 2011. The Act also includes transitional rules for applying certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code during the enactment year.

The "Protecting America's Seniors' Access to Care Act" prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from enacting or enforcing the CMS's final rule published on May 10, 2024, which mandates minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities and Medicaid institutional payment transparency reporting. This bill effectively blocks the implementation of these new federal standards and any similar regulations.

This bill expresses support for designating February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week," celebrating the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders through agricultural education. It also recognizes the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America and the 75th anniversary of the Future Farmers of America federal charter.

The "Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025" amends the Clean Air Act to modify fuel and fuel additive waiver processes, primarily affecting ethanol blends. It adjusts Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) limitations for gasoline blends containing 10-15% ethanol and allows small refineries to regain certain credits under specific conditions. These changes aim to provide greater fuel choices for consumers and retailers nationwide.

The "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025" permits schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer a wider variety of milk options, including whole milk (both flavored and unflavored, organic and non-organic), reduced-fat, low-fat, fat-free, and lactose-free milk. It specifies that milk fat from any fluid milk offered is not considered saturated fat when measuring compliance with saturated fat content limits for meals. The bill also prohibits schools from purchasing milk from China state-owned enterprises.

The "Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025" aims to improve pediatric drug development and access by requiring more research into pediatric cancer drugs, ensuring completion of pediatric studies, and extending priority review vouchers for rare pediatric disease treatments. The act also addresses organ transplantation network improvements, limitations on orphan drug exclusivity, and establishes an FDA office to coordinate with Abraham Accords countries on regulatory standards. Additionally, the act allocates funding for pediatric drug studies and mandates reports and studies to assess the effectiveness of these changes.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.